Comics, keys & vinyl, explained with sources
The Nerd Hoard is an independent guide to collecting comics and pop-culture collectibles. It covers comic book ages, key issues, Funko Pop! figures and what's in demand right now. Every guide links to its sources.
Guides
Key comics collectors watched in 2022
A 2022 retrospective of key comics: first appearances tied to that year's TV and film releases, blue-chip Golden and Silver Age keys, and the record public sales behind the headlines.
What collectibles are hot right now?
Which collectible categories are in demand, based on 2025 marketplace and auction data: graded trading cards, comics, sneakers, blind-box designer toys, Funko Pop! and vintage toys.
What are the comic book ages?
The comic book ages explained: Platinum, Golden, Silver, Bronze, Copper and Modern Age, with date ranges, defining books and the reasons historians draw the lines where they do.
Do Funko Pops have brains? What's inside a Pop!
No brains, just vinyl. What Funko Pop! figures are made of, how they're designed and produced, why some heads bobble, and what that means for display and care.
Superhero Funko Pop!: Marvel and DC lines, exclusives and numbering
An overview of superhero Funko Pop! figures: how the Marvel and DC lines started, sub-lines like Comic Covers and Deluxe, convention and retailer exclusives, chase variants, vaulting and box numbers.